Smoking (quitting) with Help me Quit

Overview

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you will ever do for your health. Especially now more than ever during the Covid-19 pandemic, as we know that smokers are more likely to have severe complications if they get Covid-19.

Getting help and support to stop smoking has never been easier with 7 in 10 smokers in Wales wanting to stop, why not give yourself the best chance to stop with free NHS expert support. Did you know that smokers are 4 times more likely to quit and stay quit with Help Me Quit? Don’t go it alone, give yourself the best chance of success and let us help you on your journey to quitting.

Finding the right support has never been easier. Our HMQ Hub Team are available to help you on 0800 085 2219.

Find out how to get free, expert support from HMQ.

Background on Tobacco in Wales

Smoking is the risk factor that contributes most to the current burden of disease in Wales, which caused over 5,500 death each year and costs the Welsh NHS an estimated £302 million per year. Smoking also is one of the main causes of inequality in health is Wales. This means that in the most deprived areas have the highest smoking levels and more ill-health. (Welsh Government, 2017) For these reasons, new legislation and laws have been introduced around smoking to help protect people and encourage smokers to quit.

In April 2007, laws banning smoking in most enclosed places was introduced to protect people from second-hand smoke. Because of this, fewer people in Wales are exposed to second-hand smoker and has helped to bring smoking prevalence to 18% (National Survey for Wales, 2020).

Since then, there have been a number of changes to encourage smokers to quit, such as increasing the buying age from 16 to 18 years old, introducing picture health warnings and plain packaging. From March 2021, Wales will be taking on board smoke-free legislation in school grounds, playgrounds, outdoor care settings and on hospital grounds (Public Health (Wales) Act 2017). This is again to protect people and de-normalise smoking behaviour for children and young people.

All these steps have led to reducing the smoking rates and improve the health of the Welsh population.

What support is available?

HMQ offers NHS expert support from a trained stop smoking advisor. You will be 300% more likely to stop than going it alone with HMQ. This boosts your chances of success by 4 times and you are more likely to stay stopped with this method of support. Read more about HMQ support and what to expect here.

If you decide to only use a stop smoking medication, this also increases your chances of stopping. You’ll need to see your GP or an HMQ service to see the best option or purchase it yourself. HMQ expert support is more effective and you can get medication worth £250 free along with personalised HMQ support. Read more here.

Going it alone with self-help from an app or a website can work for some. The Smokefree App is available to download for free and is most popular. Read more here.

Many people use electronic cigarettes also known as e-cigs and vapes to stop smoking. If you are thinking about stopping smoking using an e-cig, our HMQ Advisors can give you the right advice. Read more here here.

Where can I get support?

Finding the right support has never been easier. Our HMQ Hub Team are available to help you on 0800 085 2219.

You can request to be called back by providing your contact details and the Team will contact you at a convenient time.

You can also search for Services in your area, to find an HMQ service nearest to you.

What support can I expect from HMQ?

HMQ is free NHS support delivered by trained stop smoking advisors. They will provide you with friendly, confidential and non-judgemental support and advice. They can see you face to face or over the phone. Support can be either one to one or in a meeting with other smokers weekly over 6 or more weeks. Each week will be tailored and focused on monitoring your progress. Your stop smoking expert will also discuss your options around stop smoking medications and how to access for free. Read more here about what to expect and some common questions.

Remember, you are 4 times more likely to stop and stay stopped with HMQ support!!!

Health Benefits

When you stop smoking, you give your lungs the chance to repair and you will be able to breathe easier. There are lots of other benefits too – and they start almost immediately. The sooner you quit, the sooner you'll notice changes to your body and health. Look at what happens when you quit for good.

What happens when you quit?

After 20 minutes - Check your pulse rate, it will already be starting to return to normal.

After 8 hours - Your oxygen levels are recovering, and the harmful carbon monoxide level in your blood will have reduced by half.

After 48 hours - All carbon monoxide is flushed out. Your lungs are clearing out mucus and your senses of taste and smell are improving.

After 72 hours - If you notice that breathing feels easier, it's because your bronchial tubes have started to relax. Also your energy will be increasing.

After 2 to 12 weeks - Blood will be pumping through to your heart and muscles much better because your circulation will have improved.

See more health benefits here.

Of course there is the financial benefit. Calculate how much you will save here! What could you put that money towards? Have a go here and see how much you could save!!

Whether you want to quit for your health, to save money for a holiday or for your family, your motivation to stop smoking along with expert NHS support can help you to quit and stay quit.

Find out How Nicotine Dependent you are here.

Stopping smoking for you and your baby

Having a baby or getting ready to have a baby will be the perfect time to stop smoking. A HMQ stop smoking advisor will be able to support you and your partner with advice, information about stop smoking medications and weekly support. Read more here.

Covid and smoking

There has never been a more important time to quit smoking.

Smokers face an increased risk of severe complications from Covid-19. Because smoking involves frequent hand-to-mouth movement, this probably increases the chances of picking the virus up. Through the pandemic, more smokers have contacted HMQ as Covid-19 has given many smokers the motivation and opportunity to give stopping smoking a go. HMQ continues to provide expert support during the pandemic across Wales by continuing to keep appointments over the telephone, in flexible ways to help more smokers during these unprecedented times.

According to health experts, smokers are more at risk from the virus because they have weakened lung defences as a result of smoking which damages the cells protecting their nose, upper and lower airways. If they quit now however, they can improve their ability to fight the infection. Read more here about Health Benefits.

Why not join the 1000’s of other smokers in Wales who have already contacted HMQ for support? Find out how here.

HMQ Success Stories

If you want to know more about how HMQ can support you, why not watch and listen here to the experience of smokers who used have used HMQ and received expert support? Our HMQ Hub Team can help you find the right type of support for you.

Finding the right support has never been easier. Our HMQ Hub Team are available to help you on 0800 085 2219.

You can request to be called back by providing your contact details and the Team will contact you at a convenient time.

You can also search for Services in your area, to find an HMQ service nearest to you.

The information on this page has been adapted by NHS Wales from original content supplied by

NHS website nhs.uk